Bracknell Council Cuts Free Bus Passes for Students

Free bus passes for some Bracknell students will be scrapped after the council approved changes to its school transport policy. The council says it is costing almost £167,000 a year to take pupils to Charters School in Sunningdale despite nearer schools being available.

From September 2027, new pupils will not be offered free transport if they live closer to a suitable Bracknell secondary. The decision was signed off by councillor Megan Wright (Labour, Town Centre) on September 10.

About 250 pupils will get free transport to Charters in 2026/27, with existing pupils keeping it until they finish Year 11. The council says 159 of those pupils live within three miles of a closer school, costing roughly £166,950 a year.

Nearest schools identified include The Brakenhale School, Garth Hill College and Ranelagh School. Under national rules, councils normally must provide free transport to a child's nearest suitable school if it is more than three miles from home, or if there is no safe walking route.

The council said its current policy provided transport to Charters "despite the availability of nearer suitable schools" and "where there is no statutory requirement to do so".

Lawyers warned against removing transport for existing pupils, saying families could challenge the decision on grounds of "legitimate expectation" after relying on the support through secondary school.

The changes come as the council faces pressure on its home-to-school transport budget, with a £987,000 budget pressure built into its 2026/27 finances. Finance officers said keeping current arrangements for affected pupils until 2030/31 would cost more than £508,000, and annual spending is forecast to fall from £166,950 in 2026/27 to zero by 2031/32.

A public consultation had 115 responses, with 63% of parents strongly disagreeing. Concerns included road safety, travel costs, traffic congestion and the impact on working families. Pupils who lose free transport can still use the White Bus service, subject to availability, but parents will have to pay.

The council also approved a pilot offering Personal Travel Budgets to some families whose eligible children currently travel alone by taxi to school. Under the Education Act, parents are responsible for getting children to school; councils must provide free transport only for eligible children, including those attending their nearest suitable school beyond the statutory walking distance, some children with special educational needs or disabilities, and certain pupils from low-income families. Councils can also provide transport in other circumstances using discretionary powers.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter